The Baltimore Orioles currently hold the top overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, which takes place from July 17-19 in Los Angeles.
Many mock drafts have Cal-Poly stud shortstop Brooks Lee headed to Baltimore with the top overall pick, followed by outfielder Druw Jones of Wesleyan HS in Georgia. Jones is the son of former MLB great Andruw Jones.
There’s another intriguing prospect down in Bradenton, Florida at IMG Academy, who goes by the name of Elijah Green, who stands a hulking 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds.
The physically imposing athletic specimen has that rare blend of speed and raw power that franchises crave.
the next great athletes don't rest on their laurels, they want more! pic.twitter.com/ttmsIY4DPJ
— Elijah Green (@elijahgreen1204) September 1, 2021
Green As The No.1 Pick Isn’t Farfetched: He Has Ties To The City Already
Green, who spent last summer playing for the Philadelphia Phillies scout team, has already signed to play his college ball in nearby Coral Gables for the Miami Hurricanes.
Coming up, Green spent some years in “Charm City,” as his dad Eric was a former tight end for the Baltimore Ravens.
Elijah was lucky to be around the likes of former Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome, Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh daily. He even got to attend some Orioles games with his dad, where he met former O’s manager Buck Showalter.
In a recent interview, Eric reflected on his time in Baltimore, and what it would mean for his son to return as the top overall pick.
“I didn’t want to leave Baltimore. I had to be pushed out the door because I loved every bit of my experience in Baltimore, I love Ozzie Newsome, I saw his vision coming.”
When asked about Elijah returning to Baltimore to play baseball, an excited Eric was quick to respond …
“That would be great. That would be fantastic.”
Will Elijah Green be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 Draft?
Watch the @CanesBaseball commit in #PDPLeague21 action.
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— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 29, 2021
Elijah On Why He Chose Baseball Over Football
Elijah was a standout football player coming up, but he decided he’d play baseball. While he excelled in both, many believed he’d take the football route. He didn’t, and he explained why in an interview last year.
“I chose baseball because I just had more love for baseball than football. And I just wanted to have my own career. You know, football was always great to me, my dad playing in the NFL and all that, and him being my coach. And it was just a great experience for me during those six years of me playing football, but I just had to make the tough decision to quit football and play baseball. Sometimes I miss football, but it just wasn’t my dream. I just knew baseball was my dream.”
Green Has All The Tools: He’s A Five-Tool Prospect
While Green is blessed with that rare blend of elite power and speed, that’s not just as an offensive threat. He’s also a very solid defensive player, with the range, instincts, arm strength and a good glove to play anywhere in the outfield.
Even with his big frame, his range is still expansive enough to handle the demands of centerfield. Some other quality traits he possesses as his hitter, is his ability to spray the ball to all parts of the field. Finally, he’s fierce competitor, who has a knack for stepping up against better competition, a true sign of a future MLB alpha in the clubhouse.
Green could go anywhere from 1-3 in the upcoming draft, but if the Orioles want to land the possible MLB equivalent to NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, Green checks all the boxes. The Orioles fans deserve a young talented stud like this to build around, they’ve suffered enough.
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